Immigration going nowhere, but there is a way out

December 26, 2013|Guillermo I. Martinez, Columnist

One of the most important unresolved issues of the year is immigration reform. President Barack Obama promised Hispanic leaders he would enact immigration reform, and still he has deported more undocumented workers than any other president. More than two million at last count.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio went from hero to goat as he switched sides in the debate to please the tea party. First he was a member of the committee of eight that drafted the immigration reform bill that passed the Senate. Now he is backing away from it at full speed. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is the most recent entry into the fray. The outspoken Christie decided that the Dreamers -- the children of undocumented workers who have lived most of their life in the United States -- should pay in-state tuition in state colleges.

These are but a few of the views that politicians around the country have on a very thorny issue that already has dashed presidential hopes of more than one Republican candidate.

How to break this Gordian knot is crucial for Republican politicians, particularly if they have presidential aspirations. Democrats are seen as more sympathetic to the plight of illegal aliens.

They support immigration reform that offers those living in the country illegally a path to citizenship if they have no criminal record, if they pay a fine, back taxes, and then only if they get in the back of the line. The process is long, more than 13 years according to a bill that has already been approved by the Senate.

Republicans bear the political burden and price of being opposed to an issue supported by a majority of Americans.

Polls show a majority of Americans favor granting illegal aliens a path to citizenship. The Pew Research Center said seven in ten Americans favor allowing undocumented workers to remain in the country providing they meet certain criteria. Quinnipiac University poll puts the number at 57 percent and Public Religion Research Institute at 63 percent.

Still, the very vocal and strident tea party supporters vow to campaign against any Republican member of the House of Representatives that believes illegal aliends should be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship.

Probably nothing will happen in 2014.

Republicans in the House are afraid of contradicting the tea party. There is no nation-wide organization that can counter the political pressure of the tea party. Still, there is a way out.

Members of the tea party as well as many Republicans are afraid that granting citizenship to illegal aliens will only hurt the party. Once they become citizens they are likely to register and vote for Democratic candidates.

What if Republicans proposed to allow that undocumented aliens who have not committed crimes in this country be allowed to stay and work, but not be given a path to citizenship?

This would satisfy a majority of undocumented workers. A Pew Research Hispanic Trends Project poll found 55 percent of Hispanics say relief from deportation is more important than a path to citizenship. Those who would settle only for a path to citizenship represent only 35 percent.

It doesn't have to be a forever decision. It could be one that gives those in the country a set number of years to live, work and pay taxes legally. Then they would have to go back to their home country and re-apply for a new visa to allow them to enter the country again to live and work.

This option should please those dead-set against amnesty. It would help undocumented workers who no longer have to live in the shadows, always fearing an immigration raid. And it would allow undocumented workers to demonstrate the jobs they take in this country are needed and unwanted by most American citizens.

Personally I still favor the straight path to citizenship for those who have been living, working, and paying taxes in this country for so many years. But I could live with the alternative in order to stop the inhumane deportation that break up so many families.

GuillermoI.Martinez resides in South Florida. His e-mail is Guimar123@gmail.com and his Twitter is @g_martinez123